Metal Reviews

Time for a track by track

Different World
Not a typical Maiden track. It has a really catchy, almost poppy feel that I cant help but want to sing along with. I think you could compared this to Wicker Man. I like. Rating: B+

These Colours Don't Run
My pick for best song of the album. This is a maiden song for the ages...I'm guessing they'll add this to the staple live rotation. Great in everyway that makes Maiden great. Worth the price of admission. Rating: A+

Brighter than a thousand Suns
Wow... another great track. There is so much going on in here. I love all the change ups, and the power and conviction in the vocals. Bruce is at the top of his game here (unlike many of the later songs). Rating: A

The Pilgrim
Sounds like a B-side from No Prayer. It's filler with a sprinkle of goodness. Rating: C+

The Longest Day:
I liked the underlying gallop to begin this song. That said, it lets me down when it culminates in a pop rock chorus.. There is a lot to like, but when I hear "How Long....", I want to yell back "How long, until I skip this track" Rating: C-

Out of the Shadows:
Filler ballad.. And nowhere near Dreams or Wasting Love... And wow guys... I understand the simplicity of repeating the chorus.. But this shit is a whole new level. Rating: D+

Breeg:
... is that Blaze singing at the beginning??? Otherwise.. this is pretty boring.... The solos and beat around the 5 minute mark elevate it above Out of the shadows. Rating: C

For the Greater Good of God:
Should have been called for the Greater Good of the Album... Thank you!! The prog build up... The driving guitar.... The melding riffs... the desperation in Bruce's voice. The repetition is working its magic as the small changes in the riffs intertwine. I’m back into the album. Rating: A-

Lord of Light:
Acronym - LOL....Wait.. not so fast. Yes, the intro should have been a secret that was kept... but there is something to grab a hold of in here that might be better than originally thought. Yes... there it is at 1:40!!! fades out at 4:00 minutes..then back in at 5:00 to stay... so its an amazing 4 minute song that gets stretched out. Rating: C

The Legacy:
Another brutal intro. Grandiose in an almost comical way. The solos come to the rescue, I suppose... A disappointing end. Rating: D+


Overall:
Way too many songs start with a soft touch that I’m sure must have seemed like a great idea at the time. Cut all of those intros out, and I think this could have been amazing. Maybe a little more creativity in terms of bridges... and maybe bring up the bass a bit more. So, basically, it could have been X-Factor with Bruce As it stands... Overall Rating: C+

There is enough here, that I'm happy I picked it up. Im guessing any Maiden fan will not be disappointed.

Pretty much, except I don't mind the intros (reminds me of The X-Factor) and I would switch the scores of "These Colours Don't Run" and "For the Greater Good of God", still they are clearly the strongest tracks.

I don't think the album is as good as "Dance of Death", there's really no "Paschendale" here.

Im enjoying this album more with each listen, im probably the only one who thinks the Legacy is a great tune, it reminds of Mother Russia.

Your scores are way too low. Overall its an A-, maybe even and A

Second.

Maybe I was a little hard on: Breeg, Lord of Light, and Pilgrim...

So much unfulfilled promise on those tracks, so I'll stand by my scores.

I'm glad people like the album and are actually buying it. Up the Irons

Different World:

For the 2nd time in a row, Maiden's opening tracks is not a killer, rather, an average song which is not really memorable.

These Colours Don't Run:

Very good track and a classic in years to come

Brighter Than A Thousand Suns:

A bad but good track. Bad because the music and Bruce's singing are not together, which is very frustrating when listening. Good because aside from that bad point, the main riff and solo is fantastic. Overall, its an average song....probably worst on the album

The Pilgrim:

A middle of the road track with nothing spectacular

The Longest Day:

3rd best track on the album. Very nice slow begining with a great build up into a great riff.

Out Of The Shadows:

Another middle of the road track, on the good side of average. Sounds ballad-esk at the start, but mostly mid-paced throughout.

The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg:

The best song on the album by far. Great acoustic opening, followed by one of Maiden's best riff i've heard in a long time. Typical maiden feel, but its done perectly. Instant classic

For The Greater Good Of God:

2nd best track on the album. In recent years, any Maiden 9+ minute songs werent as good as they earlier ones, but this one holds your attention for the whole duration. Very catchy riff and chorus.

Lord Of Light:

After Brighter Than A Thousand Suns, this is the next worst song of the album. Nothing stands out at all, just an average average track

The Legacy:

Another 9+ minute song done very well, but not as good as FTGGOG. Very slow and long acoustic opening, but the riff and the feel of the song is very good.

I dont give scores ala the creater of this thread (A, B, etc), but my total score overall for this album, would be 90/100. And better than Maiden's last 2 albums, plus Fear Of The Dark, X Factor, No Prayer For The Dying, Killers and Piece Of Mind.

Just my opinions

very good ones: Longest Day, Out of the Shadows, Reincarnation of BB, Lord of Light, Legacy

good ones : Brighter than 1000 Suns, The Pilgrim

average ones: Different World, These Colours don't Run, For the Greater Good...

This album is a good surprise; it's better than DOD, BNW, No prayer, and maybe Virtual XI, but worse than the other ones.

all this imho.

I mean I really dig Matter Of life and Death but in no way does it comes close to such a classic that is Peace of Mind.

Correct!

Hello Metal Archives, what are you doing here?

Are you talking to me, man?

More to the track-by-track.

Its not always about you, stubxorz!

So where've you been anyway?

I'm always around, never really far away, ...just a bit more in the shadow of the horns than before.

The Legacy has one of the coolest vocal melodies ever. That song gives me goosebumps. This is definitly X Factor part 2, and it would have been pretty cool to hear Blaze sing some of these songs. By the way, wtf is Blaze up to these days? We haven't heard boo out of him in a while.

New album with his solo band next year, featuring a completely different line-up...he's going all Dio on us.

I like Piece Of Mind too and i guess it could be a classic, but i reakon that A Matter Of Life And Death is more consistant and more powerful than Piece Of Mind. The only tracks i really like from POM is Flight Of Icarus, The Trooper and Sun And Steel. Not a major fan of both Where Eagles Dare and Revelations, and i dont like Die With Your Boots On very much. The other 3 are alright, but are not killer tracks (Still Life, Quest For Fire & To Tame A Land).

If someone asked me, which album would i choose to have if it was out of Piece Of Mind and AMOLAD, i'd chose AMOLAD...it just has more substance to it. About half of the songs on POM are just very simple and uninspiring, while the songs on AMOLAD are very technical and more meaningful.....again, just my opinions

I think the new album is weak. I would give it 65%. It lacks the energy I used to feel when I listen to an ordinary iron maiden record.

The best on the album!

I give this album an A. Pretty much all songs are great. The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg is amazing though. If you really want to convey something to the listener, you should tell a tale from the perspective of one individual and his fate. That concept really did work wonders on this song.

One thing I haven't figured out though, of all things people complain about the intros. I just don't see where it's coming from, I think the intros are amazing for the most part and not boring at all.